He may be a revered Iron Chef, an unapologetic mentor on Food Network Star and a restaurant owner many times over, but when it comes to facing off against some of the best chefs in the country, Bobby Flay isn’t indestructible. Just a few weeks ago on Beat Bobby Flay, the host fell to Chef Brian Tsao in one challenge — Battle Taco — that would have seemingly been Bobby’s for the taking; after all, the Iron Chef is known for his affinity for and mastery of Southwestern cuisine. He offered guest judges his version of a puffy taco, and while they indeed offered praise for the dish, it was no match for Chef Brian’s Korean-inspired plate.

It turns out, however, that Bobby has a long history with puffy tacos. FN Dish recently caught up with him and he revealed that his 2007 puffy-taco challenge on Throwdown with Bobby Flay is among his most-memorable cook-offs to date — but not necessarily because of the result of the battle.

With Bobby’s winning record in Kitchen Stadium and years’ worth of cook-off experience on Throwdown, the chefs hoping to take him down on his all-new series, Beat Bobby Flay, know that victory is going to be far from simple. This Iron Chef is known for his get-it-done sensibilities in the kitchen, and as the chefs who’ve cooked alongside him and the judges who’ve tasted his food know, he’ll stop at nothing to turn out challenge-worthy plates every time.

Before a competitor can advance to battle Bobby, however, he or she must win in a face-off against a peer; it’s up to Bobby’s closest friends and colleagues to determine which among them would be most-likely to succeed in a head-to-head matchup against him. FN Dish caught up with these Round 1 special guests — either on the set of Beat Bobby Flay or at the Savor Borgata celebration at Atlantic City’s Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa — to ask them a question: What does it take to beat Bobby Flay? They know his strengths and weaknesses like few others do, have cooked with him personally and professionally, and they’re sure to be honest when it comes to doling out advice to Bobby’s potential defeaters. Hear what Alex Guarnaschelli, Anne Burrell, Michael Symon and more Food Network stars had to say.

No stranger to fierce competition, Bobby Flay is a longtime Iron Chef with a winning record in Kitchen Stadium, and he’s thrown down with some of the top chefs and home cooks across the country. But beginning this weekend, Bobby will launch an all-new kind of contest on his upcoming series, Beat Bobby Flay. Beginning with a sneak-peek episode on Monday, March 3 at 10|9c, Bobby will welcome rival competitors into the kitchen for a face-off, and he’s looking to find who among them can beat him in battle. Each show will feature two competitors going head-to-head in a preliminary-round cook-off; it’s up to Bobby’s closest friends and colleagues to decide which competitor is worthy of the chance to challenge Bobby in Round 2.

FN Dish was on the set of Beat Bobby Flay recently to take in the sights and sounds of the competition, and to get an insider’s look at the kitchen where the contest unfolded. Bobby and the rival chefs have their own workstations in the kitchen, which offer all of the tools, pans and equipment they may need to turn out winning dishes. The pantry overflowed with myriad fresh produce and an assortment of dry goods, while the refrigerator was piled high with creamy cheeses, crisp lettuce, a range of meats and various stocks.

Whether it’s the bone-chilling weather, the short, darker days or the cozy sweaters and puffy coats, winter practically necessitates comfort food. And while you likely reach for all things cheesy, warm and hearty to feel soothed this time of year, so, too, do Food Network chefs. FN Dish caught up with Bobby Flay and Michael Symon at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City, and we asked the guys to share their favorite sweet and savory indulgences. What we found out is that when it comes to comfort food, tried-and-true classics reign supreme.

Both Michael and Bobby agreed that a classic roast chicken is among their top dishes, but for Bobby, it has to come with the works. “I want the roasted chicken with all the roasted vegetables alongside of it that you cook with it [and] the pan sauce right out of the roasting pan,” he explained.

Just this past summer you watched two fearless chefs put their reputations on the line as they attempted to take down Bobby Flay in the kitchen. Beginning this March, all-new hopeful competitors will head to New York City to do the same on the first-ever season of Beat Bobby Flay. These established industry professionals are confident in their cooking chops, but when it comes to facing off against an Iron Chef, everyday skills may not be enough to succeed.

Before the chefs can go head-to-head against the famed culinary master, they’ll have to prove their worth in a showdown against each other. Bobby’s closest friends and longtime chef-colleagues will be on hand to judge this preliminary cook-off before deciding which one can advance to battle with Bobby. While Bobby may have years of experience in culinary competitions behind him, his competitor will have one key advantage: choosing the challenge dish. With only seconds of on-the-spot thinking to prepare, Bobby will have to make the ultimate version of his rival’s dish in the hopes that a new crop of judges will select his as supreme in a blind tasting.

Worst Cooks in America returns with a new season on Monday, Feb. 17 at 9pm/8c. Chefs Anne Burrell and Bobby Flay are back again to coach 14 kitchen disasters, turning them (hopefully) into culinary successes with seven weeks of Boot Camp. Every week the recruits, who will be divided into two teams, have to face two grueling challenges that aren’t necessarily related to the kitchen — certain field trips will show these amateurs where their food comes from — and one member from each team will be sent home.

At the end of Boot Camp, the title of Best Worst Cook will go to the most-improved recruit, who will win $25,000 and earn his or her mentor highly coveted bragging rights. Last season, Bobby earned his first-ever win, facing off against formerly undefeated series champ, Anne. Watch the premiere on Monday, Feb. 17 at 9pm/8c to find out which mentor will win this season.

FN Dish caught up with Bobby, Giada, Guy, Jeff, Justin and the entire cast of Chopped judges at the 2013 New York City Wine & Food Festival. Click play on the video above to relive the biggest events and most memorable moments featuring your favorite Food Network stars.

Tacos are having a moment in New York City right now, and it was on full display at Bobby Flay‘s fourth annual Tacos & Tequila party. This can’t-miss event has become a Saturday night staple of the New York City Wine & Food Festival. This year, nearly 30 of Bobby’s NYC chef “brothers and sisters” served up their tastiest tacos, and there were even stations from a few out-of-town friends.

FN Dish asked Bobby what makes up his perfect taco. “The perfect taco should be spicy, sweet, sour and crispy,” the event host told us, as he manned his Bar Americain station and chatted with hundreds of fans. Bobby’s own taco certainly met his criteria: He served a pork, pineapple and pomegranate taco wrapped in a crisp radicchio leaf for a refreshing flavor-packed bite.

Hundreds gathered at this year’s New York City Wine & Food Festival‘s Blue Moon Burger Bash on Pier 92 to taste 27 different iterations of burgers, ranging from the classic to the over-the-top. But for the first time in the Burger Bash’s history, two chefs shared the most coveted prize of People’s Choice: Guy Fieri and Josh Capon. Judges’ Favorite went to Paul Denamiel of Le Rivage for his French Onion Soup Burger. Guy’s burger was a multi-layered comfort food smorgasbord that Guy himself claimed contained 22 ingredients. It drew a never-ending line of patrons who ultimately voted it as their top pick.

FN Dish was at the event to take in all the sights, sounds and aromas. Watch the video above to see what went down and read on for more details on Guy’s and Josh’s winning burgers and ones from Bobby Flay and Marc Murphy.

For years Bobby Flay traveled across the country battling professional chefs and home cook enthusiasts alike in throwdowns, but in his all-new special, Beat Bobby Flay, he’s upping the ante and challenging culinary powerhouses to face off against him on his own turf, right in New York City. The concept is simple: One chef will have the opportunity to go head-to-head with the famed Iron Chef, but only after he or she bests a competitor. Two of Bobby’s peers — Jeff Mauro and Alex Guarnaschelli — will be on hand to determine which hopeful proves himself or herself worthy of a contest with Bobby by successfully outcooking the opponent using a secret ingredient. The winner will have ultimately earned the right to meet Bobby in battle — and will surprise him with the signature dish they both must cook.

In this 30-minute episode airing tomorrow, Saturday, August 24 at 9pm/8c, a Los Angeles- and a Chicago-based chef will travel to the Big Apple for their chance to beat Bobby Flay. They’ll throw down in an audience-packed arena, but just one will have the culinary chops needed to stand up against a Kitchen Stadium great. Be sure to tune in to find out who makes it to the final round of competition and see whether Bobby Flay ends up being beaten at his own game.

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